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Microsoft enters the VR race this Spring

Discussion in 'VR Headsets and Sim Gaming - Virtual Reality' started by noorbeast, Oct 26, 2016.

  1. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Windows 10 with native baked in VR support is coming as part the 2017 Spring Windows update.

    Windows 10 VR headsets will be available from partners such as Lenovo, ASUS, Acer with inside-out tracking, starting at $299: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/octoberevent/microsoft-live-event

    There are many other key aspects built into the Spring update around gaming, creative development in the next gen Paint tools and social integration to suggest Microsoft is taking a whole encompassing approach to putting forward an integrated platform. The VR announcement also suggests Microsoft may have some issues about its current partnership with Oculus...time will tell!
    • Informative Informative x 1
    noorbeast, Oct 26, 2016
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  2. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    The ability to 3D scan objects with a phone and/or surface looks interesting and will open up some awesome 3D print possibilities.
    Archie, Oct 27, 2016
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  3. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Indeed, the revamped paint also has interesting creative possibilities.

    I am interested to see more robust VR demonstrations and in particular with respect to the tracking.

    It is hard to say at this point how open or walled Microsoft will be, particularly around gaming.
    noorbeast, Oct 27, 2016
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  4. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    It will be interesting to see what Microsoft brings to the VR table. But if its anything like Bing and Windows phones they’re a day late and a dollar short of making any substantial impact.
    BlazinH, Oct 27, 2016
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  5. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    True, but they have done better with gaming via the Xbox, though Kinect was always a bit questionable.

    Given the investment they are making in AR with Hololens I suspect they will be a bit serious about a competitive VR product. Just how open it is and how it works with gaming, particularly with respect to potential competitors like Steam, remains to be seen.
    noorbeast, Oct 27, 2016
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  6. Archie

    Archie Eternal tinkerer

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    They appear to be marketing the Hololens to big business and developers only, with an early adopter being Volvo. As much as I love 'tech' I just can't see a consumer market for the Hololens, and at a starting price of US$3000 for essentially a 4cmx4cm projected screen in front of my eyes, it seems ludicrous.

    There are also rumours that Microsoft will pull their agreement with Oculus, which would be a sad thing for future Xbox ONE Oculus titles... The two are made for each other... with Playstation VR already here.
    Archie, Oct 27, 2016
    #6